Bulford Camp
Salisbury Plain
3.7.18
My darling Cyril
You can guess how delighted I was to hear from your Father that you were gazetted on June 28th as Major – your appointment to date from Feb 1917.
It is simply splendid, darling and I am ever so proud.
I am still up to my eyes in work and it seems as though things will never come straight. One can but go on trying and leave the rest.
Mrs Bryant took this photo of me in my bedroom mending. It is the first indoor photo she had ever done so it’s not bad. I was sickening for influenza at the time so I look a bit tired.
The epidemic of influenza which started in Spain has reached England and men and women are going down like ninepins. We have 145 women down with it and last week I had it myself – running a temperature of 101.2 but I got over it wonderfully quickly. I was well looked after by Mrs Bryant and when I was getting better the SMO sent me a bottle of claret and someone else sent me some port wine – so I was able to drink your health!
I came on duty yesterday and found no end of returns waiting to be filled in relating to this epidemic!
W h a t a l – i – f - e.
I have written to Mrs Tom Butler, your cousin’s wife who is living at Salisbury, introducing myself to her. Your cousin is Adjutant to the OC ASC – Wilton.
Mother and Barbara are spending the week end commencing July 12th at Badsey. I am so glad they are going.
This is a short letter but it is brim full of love and pride in my gallant major!!
Goodbye for the present, Sweetheart.
Ever your loving and devoted
Mela
